chapter 16

Chapter 16You drive me crazyIshiqa took out the first aid box and sat down on the bed and unsuccessfully tried to reach the wound with her hand. Ved watched her impatiently then said authoritatively, “Take off your clothes.” Her eyes widened in dismay. “What do you mean?” “I mean, take off your T-shirt. I will clean the wound and apply the medicine for you.” “I will manage. No need for you to do that.” she said in a small voice, as he snatched the medicine from her hands. “Shut up, will you? Are you going to take it off, or shall I? You have hurt yourself badly and you cannot reach it by yourself. So stop being foolish and hurry up.” She swallowed as her heartbeat quickened; her pulse raced and she felt the blood rush to her cheeks, making them hot with embarrassment. “Okay, you turn around,” she stammered apprehensively. He gave that lopsided grin of his, showing her no mercy. “Ishiqa, can we hurry this up?” “Turn around. Don’t you know how to be civil towards women?” she glared at him. “I do, I do. But every time I see you, I seem to forget all about being civil,” he joked. Nevertheless, he turned around saying wryly, “Okay, I will be the gentleman just this once.” Quickly, she removed his T-shirt and laid it on the carpet below. She hesitated with her own T-shirt. “Are you done, Ishiqa dear?” he turned. He observed her discomfiture and said softly, “Trust me, Ishiqa. I promise only to clean your wound and not touch you anywhere else.” She still hesitated. Exasperated, he said, “Okay, now lie down on your stomach.” She obeyed hesitantly, when she saw the determination in his eyes. She lay down nervously and turned her head to one side. Ved tore her T-shirt further to reach the wound properly. “The bleeding has stopped and it is not as bad as it looks,” he spoke in a muffled voice as he touched her back with his hand. She lay still, shutting her eyes meekly, and felt his hand rubbing the cotton with the antiseptic gently back and forth on her smooth back. Slivers of tingling excitement scorched her whole body as his fingers rested on her flesh. As his hands moved to the sides of her body, his fingers were very close to the side of her breasts. He gently applied the antiseptic lotion on the cuts, and through the burning, she felt her own desire smouldering uncontrollably. Ved, though diligently focusing on the wound, could not help but be roused by her fair, smooth skin. Instead of cleaning just the wounds, as he had intended, his hands of their own accord moved in circles on her back. Realising his weakness, he said in a voice thick with desire and self-admonishment, “Go get dressed, Ishiqa. I have some calls to make.” He left closing the door behind him with a sharp click and moved into the living room. Ishiqa curled to one side, trying to control her beating heart. She wanted to run after him and put her arms around him, dragging him to the bed. But she feared that he would only end up hurting her emotionally, however wonderful he possibly was in bed. Suddenly she heard his voice rising. “Yes Anita? What? Granny is not well? What happened and why didn’t you tell me all this before? Where is Subrato? Okay, will be back by tomorrow’s morning flight if we can manage one. You take care of her.” He dialled another number. “Subrato, is all well at the hotel?” Ved asked his chief manager. “I heard there was some commotion last night?” He listened and then said, “Okay, for the moment, everything is under control? Right… I will be there by tomorrow. Keep all the papers to be signed on my table in my cabin. Thank you.”  Totally alert now, Ishiqa quietly opened the door and walked towards a tense looking Ved. “What happened to granny?” He massaged the back of his neck, tension written all over his face. “Granny is in the hospital. She had pain in her chest, but the doctors have assured that it is nothing serious. Ishiqa please pack your bags. We will leave as quickly as possible. I will look for a doctor to give you an anti-tetanus dose.”  “No!” she exclaimed. She had a strong aversion to injections.“No more arguments, just change.” As she was about to turn though, he pulled her to him and kissed her hard on her lips. “You are driving me crazy. Do you know that?” he whispered.Just as abruptly, he let go of her, making her stagger back on her feet.Â